Cushion support for eggs and the like



Feb, 11, 1936. L. BENOlT 2,030,564 5 CUSHION SUPPORT FOR EGGS AND THE LIKE Filed April 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 11, 1936. BENQIT CUSHION SUPPORT FQR EGGS AND THE LIKE Filed April 29, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mnumh. n

jam/2f Patented Feb. 11, 1936 PATENT OFFICE CUSHION SUPPORT "FOR EGGS AND THE LIKE Leon Benoit, New York, N. Y.

Application April 29,

6 Claims.

This invention has to do with certain improvements in a cushion support for light'fragile articles, such as eggs, glass bulbs, etc. It is adaptable to cartons, fillers, and other suitable structures made usually from sheet material of a fibrous nature, such, for example, as chip board. It is advantageous in that it is formedintegrally with the sheet, is produced by slitting operations which leave no scrap material to be disposed of, is self-adjusting to eggs or other commodities which may vary somewhat in size, shape or weight, and is resilient to a degree which will afford a high measure of protection to the articles which are received within such cushion support.

These and other objects as will hereinafter appear are attained by a cushion support which may be formed as indicated in the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a view in transverse section through a conventional carton within which is fitted a double-trough filler having the cushion support of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the blank of which the filler 25 .is'm'ade;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in plan of one group of resilient tongues cooperating to form a resilient support;

7 Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in perspective of the cushion supports formed on one wall section of the filler;

Fig. 5 is a view in section on line 5 of Fig. -1 showing the complete cushion support formed in two adjacent wall sections of the filler;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in transverse section on line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail in section on line I of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a detail in section on line 8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of a double platform type of filler having the present cushion support formed therein; and

Fig. 10 is a view partly in plan and partly in section taken on line l0l0 of Fig. 9.

With the general construction of the carton, box, or other enclosure I am not particularly-concerned. The same is true of the filler which may be used with such a carton. This arises from the fact that the present cushion support is adaptable to cartons orfillers varying widely in construction.

For purposes of illustration I have shown in Fig. 1 a carton A of the common shoe-box type. It is of a size and shape to receive therein a double trough filler B having a form of a letter w. Within the troughs of such a filler it is 1935, Serial No. 18,827

common to place eggs C or other commodities, the wall sections of the filler being yieldable to some extent to accommodate and protect the articles thus received. Necessarily the cushion support afiorded by such a filler is dependent upon several factors including the thickness and stiffness of the sheet of which the filler is formed.

In adjacent wall sections a: and y of such a filier I provide certain slits which define groups of tongues that are hinged to swing into positions which will conform to the size and contour of the eggs or other articles that are to be received. In the cushion type of filler referred to each egg seat comprises two sets of tongues, one in each of the adjacent wall sections of the filler. These two sets of tongues which are disposed upon opposite sides of a trough center may be alike, so that a detailed description of'but one will be necessary.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, I have shown a series of four tongues arranged in two pairs (1) a and b, and (2) c and d. These tongues are defined by a series of straight communicatingslits II], II, I2, l3 and 14. In addition, these tongues are formed by other non-communicating, slits IS, It, I! and. 18, each bowed outwardly. The bowed slits terminate adjacent lines which define a rectangle extending to the outside of the four tongues, and the length of the bowed slits is somewhat shorter than the correspon ing sides of the rectangle. Beyond the ends of the bowed slit I5 I provide scorings in line with the surrounding rectangle just referred to, defining spaced hinge connections between the. tongue at and the filler sheet. Similar scorings 2| are provided for the tongue 0, other scorings 22 for the tongue b, and still other scorings 23 for the tongue I).

As suggested in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the tongues may be non-symmetrical in that one of them, here designated as d may be elongated, in which case the opposite tongue c is correspondingly shortened. The shape and size of the remaining tongues a and b is determined in large part by that of the tongues d and c. This proportioning of the tongues, however, is a matter of convenience and. will be determined more or'less by the environment of the tongues and conditions of their use. It is preferred that the ends of the tongues c and d terminate bluntly in a a straight line l2, but I would have it understood that this is largely a matter of convenience.

With a filler blank so slitted, I provide tongues which may be swung to the positions indicated in Figs. 1 and 6 for the support of eggs or other like commodities. With the filler angled to W formation, the short tongues will occupy lower positions, the long tongues (I will occupy upper positions, and the remaining tongues 11. and b will take up side positions. The cooperating eight tongues thus arranged and disposed in adjacent sections of the filler will form between them a cushion seat for the reception of a single article such as an egg.

Upon introduction of the egg or other commodity to position within its intended seat, the several tongues will give and move, as required by the contour of the accommodated article. Each of the tongues will thereupon swing upon the hinge line defined by the scorings which extend beyond the ends of its bowed slit. With this swinging movement out of the plane or" the filler wall, opposite ends of each tongue will take up positions upon opposite faces of the wall. This is due to the hinge connections in each case being placed at points intermediately of opposite ends of the tongues. By reason of the fact that the slits are bowed adjacent the hinge connections, there is a space to the rear of each tongue in the filler wall, permitting the tongue to yield into that space in response to pressure. The general tendency of the tongues to return to their normal positions in the plane of the sheet may be depended upon to hold the tongues firmly against the sides of the egg or other sustained article whereby to afford a resilient support at points removed from the plane of the filler wall.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 6, each egg or other article is supported by eight tongues two of which are disposed below the article and the others around the article. If desired, the long tongues (1 may be transversely scored as at 25 to facilitate a bending of such tongues conformable with the contour of the egg whereby to extend the support afiorded thereto to a point further down toward the bottom thereof. With the egg or other article positioned in its seat, a resilient support is afforded by (l) the inherent elasticity of the material of which the tongues are formed, and (2) by the capacity of each tongue to yield outwardly in response to pressure into the open space that is provided to the rear thereof. It is important to note that in line with the hinge connections each tongue is free to yield, inasmuch as it is not reinforced at its point of contact with the egg or other article by any connection with the filler wall itself.

As already indicated the type of filler with which the present improvements maybe incorporated is relatively unimportant. As suggestive of a further adaptation of my invention, I have shown in Figs. 9 and 10 a double platform type of filler adapted to be used independently of a carton or to be fitted within such an enclosing structure. Here the platforms m and n are extended horizontally one above the other in spaced relation. Each platform is slitted to provide a group of tongues 38 and 3! having integral hinge connections with bowed slits therebetween, permitting the tongues to yield outwardly in line with such connections in response to pressure imposed by an accommodated article C. The spacing of the tongues on the lower platform may be somewhat closer, as required by the shape or size of the object which is thereby supported.

In addition to the advantages of the present cushion support already mentioned, I would point out that the eggs or other contained articles are sustained out of contact with or engagement by an edge, single or reinforced, This is important because any such edge whether formed by a punched-out opening or a swung-out tongue is sharp and unyielding, and serves effectively to transmit directly to the egg or other object shocks which are apt to be damaging or destructive. By eliminating any such edge contact, and substituting therefor face engagement of resilient tongues which, as shown, have capacity to yield outwardly in response to pressure, the eggs or other commodities are afforded increased protection. It is accordingly to such features of improvement, as set forth in the claims following, that my present invention is directed.

I claim:

1. A support for eggs and the like formed of a sheet of fibrous material which is slitted to provide companion tongues each integrally joined to the sheet by hinge connections at points intermediately of the upper and lower edges of the tongue behind which there is an open space into which the tongue may yield in response to pressure.

2. A support for eggs and the like formed of a sheet of fibrous material having straight communicating slits and bowed non-communicating slits defining companion tongues each adapted to swing out of the plane of the sheet to which it remains joined by hinge connections at points intermediately of opposite edges of the tongue, the bowed slits defining open spaces between the hinge connections into which the tongues may yield in response to pressure.

3. A support for eggs and the like formed of a sheet having slits providing companion tongues each integrally joined to the sheet by hinge connections at points intermediately of opposite edges of the tongue whereby such edges will be moved to points upon opposite faces of the sheet when the tongue is swung upon its hinge connection to a position out of the plane of the sheet.

4. A support for eggs and the like formed of a sheet having slits providing companion tongues each integrally joined to the sheet by hinge connections at points intermediately of opposite edges of the tongues whereby such edges will be moved to points upon opposite faces of the sheet when the tongue is swung upon its hinge connections to a position out of the plane of the sheet, one or more of the tongues being transversely scored to facilitate bending thereof in conformity with the contour of the egg or other supported article.

5. A support for eggs and the like formed of a sheet having two sets of slits one communicating and the other non-communicating, defining companion tongues each adapted to swing out of the plane of the sheet to which it remains joined by hinge connections at points intermediately of opposite edges of the tongue, the sheet being cut away to the rear of the tongues between the hinge connections therefor permitting the tongues to yield into such space in response to pressure. g

6. Formed in a sheet of fibrous resilient material, a cushion support comprising a swingable tongue joined integrally to the sheet by two widely spaced hinge connections located at points intermediately of opposite edges of the tongue.

LEON BENOIT. 

